Wellington Brewery is Canada's oldest independently owned microbrewery.
Based in Guelph, Ontario, we craft our award-winning beers in small batches
using the freshest all-natural ingredients. Since 1985, we've been a pioneer
in the craft brewing scene by producing timeless, traditional style ales as well
as experimenting with new recipes as part of our Welly One-Off Series.

Queen of Craft 2015: Beer Wisdom for WomenCraft Beer in Ontario is in an exciting phase, with more and more female beer drinkers thirsty for industry knowledge. To address this growing interest, Wellington Brewery will host round two of Queen of Craft, a Beer Education Series inviting women to explore the world of craft beer. The four sessions will touch upon trends in craft beer, food and beer pairings, high ABV and low ABV brews and conclude with a cask festival! All sessions will be run by women for women, and once again, proceeds will go to Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis.

If you were excited by the journey of Team Brew Queens and the "2014: A Spice Odyssey" brew they produced, you may want to consider attending 3 or 4 of the above mentioned events to enter your name for a chance to be on the 2015 brewing team. It was a wonderfully thorough experience that exposed the team to all facets of the industry, and allowed us to be creative with our brew of choice. We hope to see your beer-beaming smiles out next month!

Happy Holidays! Retail Store Holiday HoursFrom the crew at Wellington Brewery, we'd like to wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season! Thanks to everyone who supports us and made 2014 an amazing year. We're already cooking up some exciting things for 2015 when we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary. Our brewery retail store is open regular hours with the following special holiday hours:

Welly One-Off DecemBEER SeriesIt's DecemBEER time again! For the next 3 weeks we'll be releasing a brand new Welly One-Off beer every Friday. Each of these releases are small batches that will be available exclusively at our brewery retail store while supplies last.

The first release in our DecemBEER series will be Walk The Plank IPA, an American style IPA aged with cedar planks. It will be available on Friday December 5th in 473 mL tall cans for $3.45/can or $19.95 for a 6-pack.

In the following weeks we'll be releasing two more new brews. We can't give away all the details just yet, since we're still working on brewing these but we can share a few details; Our 2nd release will be a spiced farmhouse ale using a wild yeast strain isolated in Guelph and our 3rd and final release will be a high alcohol 'wheat wine' aged in cabernet franc wine barrels.

More details about these beers will be available over the coming weeks, so keep an eye on our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for more details. Happy DecemBEER!

Welly Coaster Series Vol. 2A new series of 4 collectible coasters designed by local artists. Each artist brought the Welly boot to life on these wildly creative coasters. For volume 2, we're honoured to work with Ryan Price, Cai Sepulis, Gordon James Lachland Auld, and Aaron Awad. Look for these amazing coasters at your favourite bars and restaurants!

Realist Party 2014It's time to get real with Wellington Brewery! Join us on Saturday September 20th, 2014 from Noon to 5pm for the Realist Party, our annual customer appreciation party. This year marks the 29th anniversary of the brewery and we're marking the occasion with an afternoon of craft beer, BBQ and fun.

This year we’re featuring an expanded selection of Welly One-Off cask ales that will be available for sampling. The event will showcase a variety of styles served up as traditional cask style ales. We’ll also have a selection of Welly One-Off beers available for sale in our brewery retail store.

The afternoon will also include an opportunity to meet our brewers, learn about our barrel aging program, and take part in the brewing of a pilot batch. And of course we’ll have some delicious BBQ to pair with our award-winning craft beers.

The Realist Party happens at Wellington Brewery (950 Woodlawn Rd. West, Guelph). Admission is free but space is limited, so please show up early. There is no need to RSVP and guests will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis.

Parking is very limited at the brewery, so please consider carpooling, taking a taxi or the bus. If you have any questions about the party please email brad@wellingtonbrewery.ca or give us a call at (800) 576-3853.

Wellington Brewery Launches Gryphon Gold To Celebrate University of Guelph's 50th AnniversaryWellington Brewery is excited to embark on a unique partnership with the Guelph Gryphons to launch Gryphon Gold, a new craft-brewed lager to celebrate the University of Guelph's 50th 'Golden' anniversary.

Gryphon Gold marks the first collaboration between a craft brewer and a Canadian University athletics department. This community based partnership will see a percentage of all Gryphon Gold sales go toward Athletic Scholarships for Gryphon athletes. "As alumni of the University of Guelph, we're excited about this opportunity to give back to the community by supporting Gryphon Athletic scholarships" said Wellington Brewery's Vice-President Brent Davies.

Gryphon Gold is brewed in Guelph, Ontario at Wellington Brewery, Canada's oldest independently owned craft brewer. The beer is a light, refreshing lager brewed with 100% Canadian barley malt and Czech style Saaz hops. The unique can design showcases the Gryphon logo as well as iconic University of Guelph landmarks, which represent the rich traditions and history of the University of Guelph.

"Gryphon Athletics is very excited to announce this partnership with Wellington Brewery, a strong and thriving locally owned company brewing great quality beer," said University of Guelph Director of Athletics Tom Kendall. "We're thrilled to offer our community and alumni this opportunity to enjoy 'Gryphon Gold' and give back to our student-athletes. Our scholarship program is focused on supporting student-athletes and we're proud to work together with local partners to invest in their future."

Gryphon Gold officially launches this September and will be available on tap at local bars and restaurants, and at select Guelph LCBO locations. In advance of the full release this fall, the first batch of Gryphon Gold is available now from the Wellington Brewery retail store. Support Gryphon Athletics and enjoy Gryphon Gold!

Wellington Brewery Takes Home Medals at U.S. Open Beer ChampionshipFor the third year in a row, Wellington Brewery picked up medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

For the third year in a row, Wellington Brewery picked up medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship is an international competition that included over 3,000 beers entered in 81 different categories. This year the competition featured more than 20 international breweries from Iceland, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, and England.

Wellington Brewery won two Silver Medals at this year's competition. County Dark Ale was awarded a Silver Medal in the 'Brown Ale' category and Iron Duke took home a Silver Medal in the 'Old Ale' category.

Wellington brewmaster Marvin Dyck says, "it's incredible to have our beer recognized on an international level".

Every year, Wellington Brewery continues to grow and reach new audiences with their award-winning line-up of beers. So far, 2014 has seen record sales and a rapidly expanding customer base for the Guelph, ON based brewery, founded in 1985. As Canada's Oldest Independently owned Craft Brewery, Wellington Brewery will mark 30 years of brewing in 2015.

County Dark Ale is available year-round at The Beer Store and LCBO locations across Ontario. Iron Duke is exclusively available at The Beer Store.

You can read the full results at www.usopenbeer.com. Thanks to the judges and congratulations to our fellow Canadian brewers who also won awards. Cheers!

Father's Day Ale Trail - Craft Beer Bus TourIt's become a Guelph tradition! The popular Father's Day Ale Trail is back for another year. Join us to celebrate Father's Day and Ontario Craft Beer Week with a craft beer bus tour that includes stops at Wellington Brewery, F&M Brewery and The Woolwich Arrow Pub.

Bus Schedule: Buses leave every 45 minutes starting at 12pm from the Woolwich Arrow (176 Woolwich Street) and the last bus leaves at 4pm. Bus Schedule

Special Beer Releases: The Father’s Day Ale Trail will also mark the release of a number of small-batch specialty beers and a few collaboration beers. Beer Menu

Tickets: $30 (including tax). They are the perfect gift for Dad or any Craft Beer lover! Tickets are available at The Woolwich Arrow (176 Woolwich Street), Wellington Brewery (950 Woodlawn Road West), and F&M Brewery (355 Elmira Road N). A limited # of online tickets are available at http://fathersdayaletrail.eventbrite.ca

If you have any questions about the event, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Brad McInerney by email at brad@wellingtonbrewery.ca or by phone (519) 837-2337.

Wellington Brewery Wins 3 Medals at the Ontario Brewing Awards 2014Congrats to our fellow Ontario Craft Brewers who won awards at the Ontario Brewing Awards this year. We took home a Silver Medal for Frost Quake, a Bronze Medal for Terrestrial IBA and a Bronze Medal for Imperial Russian Stout. Thanks again for the support! Cheers

Queen Of Craft: Women's Beer SeriesCraft Beer in Ontario is exploding in popularity and more women are discovering the bold and exciting flavours and styles of craft beer, as well as working in the industry. To address this growing interest, Wellington Brewery will host "Queen of Craft" a Beer Education Series inviting women to explore the world of craft beer. The three sessions will touch upon beer basics, food and beer pairings, and roundtable on the role of women in the craft beer industry. All sessions will be run by women for women, and proceeds will go to Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis.

Session #1- Beer 101
Wednesday, April 2nd: 7-9pm @ Wellington Brewery

Would you like to deepen your beer knowledge? Come out to Wellington Brewery and learn about all things brewing related from our super-duper female brewer, Robyn Weeks. Learn more about the chemistry behind the beers you consume, from our food-and-bevvie-specialist, Anita Caven and talk taste and styles with our mistress-of-beer-fun, Karyn Boscariol. You will be sampling different beers, so all participants must be of legal drinking age.

Join us at the Cornerstone for the marriage of select lagers, ales and stouts with select chocolates and cheeses from Ouderkirk and Taylor. A pairing expert, as well as a chocolatier and a cheese-maker will discuss the features of each product, when to offer these pairings seasonally and how to conduct your own pairing party. This is some deliciousness you won't want to miss!

Interested in pursuing a career in the beer industry? Come out to the Ebar's Greenroom for a round table discussion with some of Craft Beers' most influential women. Listen to their stories, ask questions and of course, sample great beers (complimentary)!

Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays from all of us at Wellington Brewery! Over the holiday season we'll be hosting our regular Saturday Samplings from 1-4pm on Saturday Dec. 21st & Saturday Dec. 28th. This holiday season we'll be open regular retail store hours with the following exceptions:

Welly One-Off DecemBeer SeriesWe're excited to announce the release of four new small-batch Welly One-Off beers to be released in 4 weeks this December. It's a great lead up to the holiday season with a selection of different styles showcasing unique ingredients in four seasonal winter beers. Here's what we've got planned:

Yuletide Barley Wine (9.8% Alc/Vol)
Celebrate the holidays by kicking back with this winter treat. Based on the traditional English style, this dark ale has a rich, full bodied malt with notes of chocolate, toffee and raisins. Best enjoyed with friends and family this holiday or save it for future enjoyment!Release Date: Saturday November 30th Availability: Limited run of 650 bottles (750mL swing top) from the brewery.

Chocolate Milk Stout (7.2% Alc/Vol)
Back by popular demand! Chocolate Milk Stout is a robust and decadent chocolate stout brewed with fair trade Peruvian cocoa powder, lactose (milk sugar) and a touch of flaked oats. With an inviting aroma of dark chocolate and a silky smooth unfiltered malt body, this unique stout is the perfect winter beer.Release Date: Saturday December 7thAvailability: 473 mL tall cans from the brewery and on tap and cask at select locations.

Cedar Rye-PA (6% Alc/Vol)
An aromatic american style IPA with a twist. This flavourful IPA balances the dry spicy notes of rye malts with cedar chips and Centennial hops for an otherwordly aroma of cedar and tropical fruit. Release Date: Saturday December 14thAvailability: 473 mL tall cans from the brewery.

Brewmaster's Choice Discovery Pack Now Available at the LCBOThe Ontario Craft Brewer's are back with a new mixed pack, the Brewmaster's Choice Discovery Pack for Fall 2013. The mixed 6 pack will be widely available at LCBO locations across Ontario.

This selection of Ontario's best beers includes our award-winning County Dark Ale alongside 5 other selections from Amsterdam Brewery, Cameron's Brewery, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Brewery, and Nickel Brook Brewery. Look for it at your local LCBO.

Wellington Brewery Celebrates 28th Anniversary with Annual Realist PartyWellington Brewery celebrates 28 years of craft brewing with the 2013 Realist Party, an annual customer appreciation party happening from Noon-5pm on Saturday September 21st.

It’s time to get real with Wellington Brewery. Join us on Saturday September 21st, 2013 from Noon to 5pm for the Realist Party, our annual customer appreciation party. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the brewery and we’re marking the occasion with an afternoon of craft beer, BBQ and fun.

This year we’re featuring an expanded selection of Welly One-Off cask ales that will be available for sampling. The event will showcase a variety of styles served up as traditional cask style ales. We’ll also have a selection of One-Off beers available for sale in our brewery retail store.

The afternoon will also include an opportunity to meet our brewmasters and take a tour of our brewery. And of course we’ll have some delicious BBQ to pair with our award-winning craft beers.

The Realist Party happens from Noon-5pm at Wellington Brewery (950 Woodlawn Rd. West, Guelph). Admission is free but space is limited, so please show up early. There is no need to RSVP and guests will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis. If you have any questions about the party please email brad@wellingtonbrewery.ca or give us a call at (800) 576-3853.

Wellington Brewery takes home medals at U.S. Open Beer Championship
For the second year in a row, Wellington Brewery picked up medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship this week in Atlanta, Georgia.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship is an international competition that included over 2,500 beers entered in 68 different categories. This year the competition featured more than 20 international breweries from Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Columbia, Sweden, Finland, England, and more.

Wellington Brewery took home 3 medals this year. Arkell Best Bitter won a Silver Medal in the 'Bitter' category. After winning medals this year at both the Canadian Brewing Awards and Ontario Brewing Awards, Iron Duke took home a Bronze Medal in the 'Old Ale' category. Wellington's flagship brand, SPA took home a Bronze Medal in the 'English Pale Ale' category.

You can find Arkell Best Bitter and SPA year-round at The Beer Store and LCBO locations across Ontario. Iron Duke is exclusively available at The Beer Store.

You can read the full results at www.usopenbeer.com. Thanks to the judges and congratulations to our fellow Canadian brewers who also won awards. Cheers!

Ontario Craft Beer Week - June 16th-23rd 2013It's time again for Ontario Craft Beer Week, happening June 16th to 23rd across Ontario. All week we'll be toasting the art of craft brewing with a bunch of amazing events in Guelph, Toronto, and beyond.

As part of these events we'll be releasing a number of small batch Welly One-Off beers and a local collaborative beer with our friends at F&M Brewery. We'll also be sampling a new batch of Pan-Ontario Ale, a blend of 5 amazing beers from 5 different breweries blended and aged in bourbon barrels. More details about these specialty brews will be announced in the coming weeks.

Father's Day Ale Trail - Craft Beer Bus TourBack by popular demand, we're hosting our 2nd Annual Father's Day Ale Trail on Sunday June 16th. Join us from From Noon until 5pm to celebrate Father's Day and the launch of Ontario Craft Beer Week with a craft beer bus tour that includes:

The Father's Day Ale Trail will also mark the release of a brand new collaboration ale brewed by Wellington and F&M. This collaboration ale, specially crafted using local ingredients will only be available at this event and one other OCB Week event in limited quantities. Wellington Brewery will also be debuting new One-Off beers on Father's Day. A full beer menu and further details will be announced soon.

The Bus leaves every 45 minutes starting at 12pm from the Woolwich Arrow (176 Woolwich Street). The last bus leaves at 4pm.

Tickets for this amazing event are only $20 (including tax). They are the perfect gift for Dad or any Craft Beer lover! Tickets are available at The Woolwich Arrow (176 Woolwich Street), Wellington Brewery (950 Woodlawn Road West), and F&M Brewery (355 Elmira Road N).

FAQ & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Is Wellington Brewery open for a sampling on Sunday if we are not a part of the Ale Trail?

Yes we are open between 12pm and 5pm for anyone to stop by for a sampling. If you are not part of the Father's Day Ale Trail, the cost of the sampling is $5/person. We are also open for guided samplings as per normal on Saturday June 15th between 1pm and 4pm.

Can the whole family attend the event?

Yes! Anyone under 19 years of age does not have to pay admission. At Wellington Brewery on Sunday afternoon we will be offering complimentary soft drinks to anyone who isn't of age, or isn't drinking (or is the designated driver).

How does the bus work?

Buses will be leaving the Woolwich Arrow every 45 minutes. They will be dropping off patrons and immediately heading to the next location. The bus will loop around and return to your location 45 minutes later in order to take you to the next location. You can choose to catch the next bus if you would like to stay longer. The last bus will depart the Woolwich Arrow at 4pm, which will still ensure that you have enough time to tour both breweries.